Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Delhi’s Kitchener Lake Fails Standards Despite Cleaning Work
Kitchener Lake is a large lake in Delhi’s protected Central Ridge forest.
The DDA said earlier that cleaning and treatment had improved the lake’s water.
However, an independent test ordered during a National Green Tribunal case found that some pollution levels were still too high.
The test showed problems with bacteria and measures called BOD and COD.
Some other measurements, such as pH and dissolved oxygen, were within the allowed range.
Environmental activists had questioned whether earlier evidence came from the correct lake.
The tribunal has now asked the DDA to explain the differences.
Cleaning work worth about Rs 36 lakh has already been approved.
A Delhi Pollution Control Committee report found Kitchener Lake failed limits for BOD, COD and fecal coliform.
July samples recorded BOD at 40 mg/l, COD at 88 mg/l and fecal coliform at 15 × 10³ MPN/100 ml.
The Delhi Development Authority previously told the National Green Tribunal that remedial work had brought water quality within standards.
The tribunal has sought the DDA’s response within a month despite cleaning contracts totaling about Rs 36 lakh.
Kitchener Lake lies within the protected Central Ridge forest, where proposed infrastructure work requires court approval.
- Who
- The Delhi Development Authority, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, National Green Tribunal and environmental activists Madhumita Singh and Anil Sood are involved.
- What
- Kitchener Lake was found to fail prescribed Class-D water-quality limits for BOD, COD and fecal coliform.
- When
- A sample was collected on July 14; the DPCC report was filed in late August, and the NGT sought a response on September 1.
- Where
- Kitchener Lake, a 66-acre water body inside Delhi’s protected Central Ridge forest.
- Why
- The NGT is examining the lake’s water quality after conflicting assessments and concerns about pollution and the effectiveness of remedial work.
DDA’s Assessment
Independent Findings and Concerns
Current water quality
DDA’s Assessment
The DDA told the NGT in May that remedial measures had improved the lake and that recent laboratory reports showed prescribed standards were met.
Independent Findings and Concerns
The DPCC’s independently collected July sample found that BOD, COD and fecal coliform did not meet prescribed norms.
Evidence from earlier proceedings
DDA’s Assessment
The DDA submitted photographs and water-quality information as part of its assessment of the lake’s condition.
Independent Findings and Concerns
Activists Madhumita Singh and Anil Sood alleged that photographs submitted by the authority showed a nearby lake in Jheel Park rather than Kitchener Lake.
Restoration efforts
DDA’s Assessment
The DDA is undertaking cleaning and in-situ bioremediation, with contracts totaling about Rs 36 lakh.
Independent Findings and Concerns
The NGT’s request for an explanation indicates that the court is seeking clarification on why pollution remained despite the reported remedial work.
- Lake size
- 66 acres
- Failed parameters
- Biological Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand and fecal coliform
- July sample results
- BOD: 40 mg/l; COD: 88 mg/l; fecal coliform: 15 × 10³ MPN/100 ml
- Parameters within Class-D limits
- pH was 8.1, dissolved oxygen was 4.9 mg/l and free ammonia was 0.195 mg/l
- Cleaning contracts
- The DDA awarded contracts worth Rs 14.08 lakh and Rs 22.58 lakh, totaling about Rs 36 lakh
- Tribunal direction
- The NGT asked the DDA to explain the discrepancies within one month
- Long-term proposal
- The DDA proposed using treated water from the nearby RR Base Hospital sewage treatment plant, but construction in the protected forest requires court approvals